Sectional condenser.



f UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM VAN DEN HEUVEL, OF Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

' SECTIONAL CONDENSER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 9., 1967.

Application filed June 13, 1905. Serial No. 265,022. I

To all whom it may cancer-7t:

Be it known that I, ,WII..LIAM 'VAN DEN HEUVEL, a subject of the Queen of the N etherlands, (who has declared his intention of becoming a citizen of the United States,) re- I siding at Los Angeles, in the county of Los.

provide a condenser or construction of this nature which without variation in its design can be built of any desired size or capacity and can be enlarged when required with a minimum of trouble and expense. This object I attain by constructing the condenser of units or sections substantially identical in form and construction- Afurther object of the invention is to rovide for uniform distribution of the cool1ngwater over the condenser-surfaces.

{Another object of the invention is to provlde for supporting the condenser in such manner as to elimlnate strains thereon resulting from expansion and contraction.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear in the following description.

The invention is herein described as a condenser but some of the features are applicable generally in the construction of heatinterchangers or apparatus comprising headers connected by a plurality of tubes.

' The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

Figure- 1 is a sectional plan of the invention on line as as, Fig. 4. Fig. 2 is a partial end elevation and partial vertical section on the line 1: m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective ofbfragments of the condenser and spraytu es.

vertical section of one of the headers with the connecting devices. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary end elevation of a movable support for the rear end of the condenser.

The condenser is built up of units,.each comprising a front header 1,2a rearheader2, and tubes 3, connecting said headers. The headers 1 and 2 are o'r ma be substantially identical in construction, eing each prefer Fig. 4 is a side elevation with part ofthe casing andstack in section. Fig. '5 is a ably formed as a'box-header having a perforate back or rear wall 4 to receive the condenser or cooler tubes 3 and having flanges 5 extending at right an les to rear wall 4 and forming side, top, and bottom walls for the header for attachment to and communication with the adjacent headers. Each ofsaid flanges is formed with'a projecting surfaced part or face 6 on its outside to abut or contact with the corresponding face of the adjacent header, and said contacting parts may have rooves 7 for the reception of packing (in icated at 8) to seal the joint between the headers. The'rear, side, top, and bottom walls of the headers are integral.

The headers are held together b bolts 9,

passing through the flanges 6, sai bolts be-' ing wholly within the box-shaped headers. so

that there can be no leakage along the bolts from-the inside to the outside of the headers; Openings 10 in said flanges 6 establish communication between the adjacent headers.

11 designates the caps or closure-plates for, the headers, the same being detachably fastened to the box-headers by screw-studs 12, screwing into flanges 13 on the outer ends of the. inturned flanges 6 and nuts 12 on said studs, said flanges 13 being rovided with grooves 13 for the reception 0 packing 14.

The condenser units, formed as above described, are arranged one above the other columnwise, and their supporting andsupplying means are-also formed in sections corresponding to the respective columns, said means comprising T members -15 of a length.

corresponding to the width of the sections andhaving end flan cs 16 for attachment to the correspondin anges of the T member for the -next a jacent column. The top' branch 17 of said T memberis flanged, as at 17, for attachment to a similar flange 18 on a tubular fitting 18, abutting the bottom of the lowermost condenser unit and communicat ing therewith. The T member 15 rests on the saddle or base-19, being lined up thereon by screws 16. Saddles 19 rest on piers 29.

At the rear end of the'condenser the headers'2 rest onT members 20 similar to T members 15, above described, and communi cating with the said headers, the said. T members 20 being secured together end to outlet header for the entire condenser.

Suitable connections'(not shown) lead from this bottom outlet to the wet-air pump.

22 designates saddles on which the 'T memend in a continuous line-to'form the bottom I bers rest, each of said saddles ha a bearing plate or track 23 resting on re ers 24, mounted on suitable bearings or supports 25 on ier 26.

27 esi ates screws for lining up the bottom mem ers 20 on the saddles. An upper rear header 28 is provided, made in sections corresponding to the respectivecolumns.

An desired numberof the columns of sectiona units formed as above described may be arranged side by side according to the capacity of the condenser desired and amount of space available, and when the units are so arranged the box-headers at.

their respective ends will abut one another both vertically and horizontally in such manner as to form acontinuous closure or wall at each end of the condenser, the headers at each end being arranged edge to edge in one lane. The condenser so formedis inclose at the ends b said wall formed of the headers and is furt er inclosed by sheetmetal casing surrounding the same on the bottom,sides,and top, so as to form a draina e or condensation pan 30 at the bottom, wa s 31 at respective sides, and upwardly-tapering hood 33 at the top, thecasing members 30,

.31, 32, and 33 being'secured at their ends to the outer walls of theboxes 1 and 2 by being made through headers 37 and valves 38.- There is a water-supply pipe 35 for each vertical tier of condenser-tubes 3, and each pipe has a valve 38 for controlling communication thereto individually. Pipes 35 are closed at their rear ends, arrdeach war y, as shown in Fig. 3. ipes 35 are arranged at the top of the condenser abovev the uppermost condenser-tubes, so that the water dripping therefrom willfall on the top condenser-tubes and running down on each side thereof will fall on the inclosed lower tubes, and so on down It is desirable that the film of water soproduced on the tubes should be comparatively thin, so as to increase the evaporative (and as a consequence the cooling) effect. Such a thin film of water will be exhausted or completely evaporated after passing over a certain number of the tubes, and supplement water-supply pipes 40 41 are therefore provided, located at points intermediate v the P y, P which so that the latter support the distributingtubes.- I

fastened by screws to the de-' pipe is provided with a longitudinalslot or o enmg 39, which preferably flares upheight-of the condenserfor.example,"at

the. top of each sectional unitsaid"pipes being arranged similar to the water-supply pipes 35 and connected towthe main 36 by risers 42, and valves 38 being provided for the respective pipes. Distributing or supes 35 40 41. rest on saddle-racks,

in turn rest on the condenser-tubes,

. -The condenser-casing is provided with an opening 44 in each side wall 31, through which air is forced into the casing by means of a blower or fan, (indicated at 45,) one of said blowers being located at each side of the casing at the opening aforesaid and being driven insuch direction as to force the air into the casing.

46 designates bearings for the fans, and

.47 the shaft thereof, which extends through the casing from side to side and carries both of the fans. Each fan is surrounded by a sheet-metal ring or casing 48, attached to the side-wall 31.

49 designates a pulley or driving means on the fan-shaft 47. To prevent interference or conflict of the air-currents from the two fans, a baflle-plate or partition 50 is provided extending vertically parallel to the side walls of the casing and at a oint about half-way between said side wal s, so as to deflect or, direct the current from the respective fans upwardly towardthe stack. Baffle means are preferably provided within the stack, consisting, for example, of funnels 51, erforated, as at 52, in such manner as to a low comparatively free egress of the aircurrent, but exposing suflicient metallic surface to arrest any water-spray or unevaporated articles of water that may have been carried up into the stack by the force of the air-current. Such articles of water collecting on the funne s will run down to the point of the funnels and will drip'therefrom 1n sufficiently large masses to insure their falling onto the condenser-tubes below.

' The condenser-casing is preferably provided at one side with manholes or hand- ICC holes 55, on opening which access can .be obtained to theinterlor of thecasing for the purpose hereinafter set forth. 1

The condenser is used as follows: The parts being coupled up as above described, steam passes from thesupfily-header formed by T members 15, upwar I through the fittings 18, and then upwar ly in succession through the su erimposed box-headers 1 at the front oft e condenser. From these headers the steam asses in parallel currents rearwardly througii the condenser tubes to the rear headers 2. The condenser is preferably tip ed rearwardly, as indicated, so that the condensation in each condenser-tube will run to the rear header and will fall into the outlet-header 2.0, by which it is withdrawn 40, and 41 and .to run through the outlet-- slots at the top of said pipes, the water run"- ning down each way from the outlet over the outside of the pipe 35, &c., and then falling into the condenser-tube directly below said pipe and running down on each side of same and so on down until it is evaporated by the combined action of the heat and of the aircurrents, the water being supplied to the pipes below by means of the supplementary water-pipes 40 41. Any excess water (water that is condensed on the walls of the casing) will run down into the bottom pan of the casing and can be drawn oil through outlet pipe or connection 56. The condenser is preferably tipped or inclined slightlyupward, so that the condensation thereof will run to the rear end and also to facilitate the distribution of the cooling-water on the outside of the' tubes, as the water will run along the tubes longitudinally as well as downwardly.

The amount of water passing to the dis-.

' tributingipes '41 for each section is regulated y means of valves 38 38 aforesaid, so as to reduce or increase the. amount of water for the respective sections, as may be required by the conditions of practice. The water flowing through these distributing or outlet pipes cannot clog the outlet-sections, as the upward flare thereof insures that any particles that can enter the bottom of the outlet will passout at the top and will not stick in the outlet. The evaporation of this cooling-water will leave a deposit or scale on the outside of the condenser-tubes, and'this can be removed from time to time by removing the caps from the headers and inserting suitable devices of well-known character for .dislodging the scale by.vibrati0n, then opening the doors in the sides of the casing and insertingsuitable instruments, such as bars orscra ers, for knocking off or scraping 011' the sea e.

If at any time it is desired to enlarge the condenser, it is only necessary to remove the casing at one side, perforate the flanges 6 of the headers of that side, and then add on one or more additional columns of unit-sections.

2-. An evaporative surface condenser comprising tubes, water-supply tubes arranged above the condenser-tubes, and supporting means resting on the condenser-tubes and supporting the water-supply tubes, said water-supply tubes having outlets to deliver water onto the condenser-tubes.

3. An evaporative surface condenser comprising tubes, and Water-supply tubes ar ranged above the condenser-tubes, and having longitudinal slots inthe top thereof to deliver wateronto the condenser-tubes.

.4. An evaporative surface condensercomprising tubes, and water-supply tubes arranged above the condenser-tubes, and having upwardly-flaring longitudinal slots in the top t ereof to deliver Water onto. the con' denser-tubes.

5. The combination of a plurality of superimposed sections of substantially identical construction, each section comprising two box-headers with a plurality of tubes connecting the same, each box-header comprising a rear wall, side walls and top and bottom walls, all formed integrally with the rear wall,

the adjoining top and bottom walls of adjacent headers having registering openings, bolts extending through the top and bottom walls of adjacent headers and extending from the inside of one header to the inside of adja cent header to fasten the headers together, and cover-plates'removably fastened to the front of the walls of each header.

6. The combination of sectional units, each formed of end headers with connectingtubes, said'headers formed as boxes having a rear wall to which the tubes are connected, walls extending from said rear wall and provided with flanges extending inwardly therefrom, the top and bottom walls of adjacent headers abutting one another bolts extending through said abutting walls and securing the headers together, the ends of the bolts being Wholly withinthe headers, and said top and bottom walls having openings for communication between said adjacent headers, and cover-plates secured to" the inwardly-c tending. flanges by bolts independent of the bolts for fastening the headers together.

7. The combination of sectional units, each formed of end headers with connectingtubes, said headers formed as boxes having a rear wall to which the tubes are connected, walls extending froin said rear wall and provided withflanges extending inwardly therefrom, the top and bottomwalls of adjacent headers abutting one another, boltscxtending through said abutting walls and securlng the headers together, the ends of the bolts IIO being wholly within the headers, and said top and bottom walls having openings for headers abutting one another, bolts extend communication between 'said adj acent head-- ers, cover-platessecured'to the inwardly-extending flanges by bolts independent of the bolts for fastening the headers together, and

acking between the cover-plate and header, ocated inwardly from the fastening-bolts for the cover-plate.

- 8. The combination of sectional units, each formed of end headers with connectingtubes, said headers formed as boxes having a rear wall to which the tubesare connected, walls extending from said rear Wall and provided with flanges extending inwardly therefrom, the top and bottom walls of. adjacent ing through said abutting walls and securing the headers together, the ends of the'bolts being. wholly within the headers, and said top and bottom Walls havingopenings for communication between said; adjacent headers,

and cover-plates secured to the inwardly-exprising tubes arranged in vertical series,

water-distributing pipes extending over the top of the series to distribute water on the top of the tubes, and supplementary waterdistributin pipes intermediately located in the vertica series to distribute water on the lower tubes of theseries.

. 11. The combination of a tubular supplyheader, a support therefor, superimposed box-headers resting on the su ly header,

condenser-tubes connected to sai box-head ers, superimposed outlet-headers connected to said condenser-tubes, a tubular outletheader connected to and supporting the lastnamed headers, and abase'member whereon said outlet-header is movably supported to allow for expansion and contraction of the condenser-tubes. Y

' 12. The combination of a tubular supplyheader, a support therefor, superimposed box-headers resting 'on the su ly-header, condenser-tubes connected to sai box-headers, su erimposed outlet-headers connected to sai header connected to and supporting the lastnamed headers, a base member whereon said outlet-header is movably supported to allow condenser-tubes, a tubular-outlet for expansion and contraction of the condenser-tubes, the movable support I comprising archer-bearing.

13.'A surface con enser comprising end prising. end'headers and connecting-tubes, a casing surrounding said tubes, a stack leading from the top of said casing and provided with inclined obstructing-plates, and watersupply means within the casing to distribute water on the aforesaid tubes the said ohstruct'mgplates discharging the moisture condense thereon directly back into the casing.- I

16. An evaporative surface condenser comprising end headers and connecting-tubes, a casing surroundin said tubes, a stack leading from the top Q said casing and provided with perforate funnels, and water-supply means within the. casing to distribute water on the aforesaid tubes the said obstructing, plates discharging the moisture condensed thereon directly back into the casin connecting-tubes, inlet and outlet tubes screws supporting said inlet and outlet headers. V

18. The combination of end headers arranged edge to edge in a plurality of adjas cent columns, tubular inlet and outlet headers extending under said headers and formed as T members of length equal to the width of the end headers, the top branch of the T members communicating with and mechanically connected to said box-headers, and the T members of adjacent columns being detachablv connected and communicating with each other to form a continuous header extending under the several columns of end headers. J

. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set d'ay'of June, 1.9.05. V

' WILLIAM VAN DEN HEUYEL. 1 In presence of ARTHUR P. KNIGHT, JULIA .TowNsE1 -m.

15. An evaporative surface condenser com- 17. 'The combination of end headers with headers and connecting-tubes arranged 1n] sur-" ICO communicating with and supportin said end headers, aridsaddles provided with ining-up my hand, at Los Angeles, California, this 1st 

